Craig McDiarmid and Nicholas Chapman, both 25, are accused of taking Jonathan Nugent hostage over rent money he owed them - during which Chapman is said to have subjected his victim to physical abuse and threats to cut him with a Samurai sword if he did not pay up.

The alleged kidnapping happened on Sunday, before armed police finally swooped in East Horsley the following afternoon.

The court was told that Mr Nugent was approached in the street and driven to a residence in East Horsley.

Mobile phone calls from Mr Nugent the next day brought the police to the scene.

Police officers, armed with sniper rifles and protected by body armour, swarmed the area and immediately cordoned off a square mile to protect local residents.

Police eventually forced entry to the house.

The two men were arrested and charged with kidnapping.

Chapman was also charged with actual bodily harm, and both have been remanded pending Crown Court appearances.McDiarmid, who is not accused of taking part in any assault, spoke only to confirm his name during a brief appearance before Guildford magistrates.

Eddie De Jonge, who works at an estate agency near to where the incident happened, said: "I came back from a routine house-viewing at about 2.30pm, and at that time the police were happy to let me through the cordon.

"But by 3.30pm they were not letting anyone through.

"But there were at least four riot police, two armed police and two police vans round at the back of the premises."The village was re-opened shortly after the incident.

One alarmed shopper commented: "You definitely don't expect armed police in a quiet village like this."

McDiarmid, of Station Parade, East Horsley, will appear at Crown Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing.Chapman will appear at the Old Bailey on the same day.